Explore Scotland in 10 Days
- mackrachelm
- Jan 6
- 12 min read
Updated: Feb 20
Scotland!! If this country isn't already on your list, add it now. If it is on your list... what are you waiting for?! Book those flights!
As with every itinerary, it’s so hard to narrow down what are the must do’s as things will inevitably be left out. Scotland has so much to offer, from its dynamic major cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, to the stunningly beautiful Highlands, to the Isles, the Lochs, the golf, the castles, the magic (it is the birthplace of Harry Potter after all!)… There's enough to fill multiple trips, but I've done my best to share a solid first-time-to-Scotland 10-day adventure to help get your wheels turning!
This itinerary is more or less what Justin and I followed on our September 2024 trip. We had started the trip in Newcastle, so we rented a car there and headed to Glasgow as our first stop in Scotland. Enjoy, and if you've been, let me know what I missed!
Day 1: Arrival in Glasgow
Begin your trip to Scotland by flying into Glasgow. Pick up a rental car (and get ready for some left-side driving!) Make sure to select an automatic car if you can’t drive standard, like us. You won’t need this for exploring Glasgow per se but it’s sometimes easier to pick up the car when you’re at the airport.
We stayed at the Voco Grand Central Glasgow and loved it. We had a huge room, and it was fun being right at the train station and part of the action (convenient if you flew into Edinburgh and took the train to Glasgow too!)
Glasgow is a very cool city with lots to see and do. It’s often thought of as the grungier counterpart to Edinburgh. There are lots of blogs that compare the two cities based on things like food scene, museums, nightlife, activities & sightseeing, and overall vibes. Do a bit of research as you might want to spend more time in Glasgow than in Edinburgh (personally... I loved Edinburgh and was happier to spend more time there).
For your first day (or likely just the afternoon or evening, depending when you arrive), don't try to do too much. Consider going for a stroll (or bike) along the River Clyde and through Glasgow Green, or check out the University of Glasgow campus for its stunning grounds that you can explore (including some spots where Harry Potter was filmed). Head up Byres Road to find a bite to eat after (try ducking down Ashton Lane!)
Day 2 - Glasgow
Hopefully you're well rested and ready for a big day of sight-seeing. You can do this in whichever order you prefer. If you have already picked up your car you can use it to get from place to place, otherwise rely on uber or public transit as a few of these sights are spread out.
Start with Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum, and Park. It's a beautiful building and museum with a lovely park to peruse after. They have a Natural History exhibit which is always my favourite. If you do this in the morning, grab coffee at Ottoman. If you do this later in the day, do a whisky tasting at Clydeside Distillery.
Next up, a little window shopping & mural hunting throughout Merchant City. Re: murals - there is a ton of street art and murals throughout the city, you can follow along a proper 'trail'... more info here). Re: shopping - stroll through George Square, and Buchanan and Argyle Streets. Make sure you check out UK chains that you might not normally get at home (Marks & Spencer, Primark, etc). If you're ready for a pint, find Innis & Gunn for their iconic Scottish malted golden ale, aged in single malt whisky casks.
Finish your day at the Glasgow Necropolis. Walk up High Street then explore the Necropolis (Victorian cemetery up on a hill with cool city views), St Mungo’s museum, Provand’s Lordship (oldest house in Glasgow) and the Glasgow Cathedral. If you're ready for another... grab a pint at Wellpark Brewing (Tennent’s) after, or find yourself a cozy pub for some grub.
Day 3 - Glasgow to Isle of Skye
I recommend getting an early start as there is lots to see on your way to Isle of Skye, plus it’s about a 5 hour drive (which is the longest drive day of this trip). Stop for a coffee and bite to eat on the road somewhere like Pret or Costa (nothing fancy but a classic UK chain).
Upon leaving Glasgow, your first stop should be somewhere within Loch Lomond & The Tressachs. We stopped and went for a stroll in Luss which was a cute quaint little town right on the Loch with adorable little houses and lanes to stroll. Continue on toward Fort William where you can stop for a walk through the main street in town, check out some buskers, and have some lunch (you should be eating lots of fish & chips on this trip, but might I suggest you try the haggis, neeps & tatties at least once). Before Fort William, prepare to experience Glencoe. This drive through the Highlands is, in my opinion, a spiritual experience. Plan to stop a few times along the way on the side of the road for photo opps and strolls along trails. Coming from Canada, I've seen some pretty remarkable landscapes and natural beauty in my time, but even still I found this experience to be awe-inspiring. Afterward you have a couple of options… If you really want to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct (aka the Harry Potter train tracks) - then research the timing of the steam train (it goes across a couple of times a day but you need to get there early to find parking and stake out a spot to watch it). From there you can take the ferry from Mallaig to Skye and continue on that way, or you can double back and drive up to cross onto Skye via the bridge. If you don’t care about the Viaduct, just head directly to Skye via the bridge.
There are a few options for accommodation on the Isle of Skye, from more remote 'self-catering' cabins, to classic bed and breakfasts (I recommend!) and small hotels and inns. We stayed in a B&B in the main town of Portree as we wanted to be able to walk around town to get dinner after a long drive day. Speaking of dinner, our first we had in town was one I'd recommend, at Antlers Bar & Grill in the Portree Hotel. Cozy nooks, unpretentious vibe, comfort food. Get a good night’s sleep as we have a full day of exploring tomorrow.
Day 4 - Skye
Okay - so much to see on Skye, so little time. Based on our experience, here is one way to spend a day on Skye, with some notes on things we missed but that I recommend you research for yourself! Be prepared for narrow single-lane stretches of road throughout the island. You will have to take turns pulling over for oncoming cars to pass throughout the day.
Start early: head to Old Man of Storr for 7am. We were there late September and the parking lot was empty, but this might vary depending on other times of the year. Allow for at least a couple of hours here to hike up and take lots of great pictures! This place feels special, especially when you mostly have it to yourselves.
Next drive up to The Quairaing. Make sure to allow for stops along the way if you see things that interest you, like waterfalls, coastlines, cute coffee shops. It’ll be getting busy by now (around 9am) so be prepared to drive around for a parking spot (but there are always people coming and going! Not everyone hikes here some just come for a picture and leave). This was also a very special place. We did a full loop here which took us about 2 hours. It actually got VERY foggy and we had a hard time finding our way back down… thank goodness for a nice French couple that we trailed alongside.
Next up, we’re heading to Talisker. We didn’t book a tour (pregnant) but definitely do book this in advance if you want to do it as it sells out. We checked out the store and Justin had a tast, and I, a sniff. Lots of cool products and we bought a bottle to take home (though as it turns out the exact bottle we bought was at our local BC Liquor store so do with that what you will).
After that we walked up the hill to The Oyster Shed. Definitely check this spot out if you like oysters (and seafood). Stand in line, order some jumbo oysters and whatever else speaks to you, then grab a spot in the rustic semi-outdoor seating area.
Next up: Fairy Pools. We wore our bathing suits underneath our sweat suits and headed out down the path. This was definitely a little busy (mid-afternoon now), but still felt magical and mystical. The plunge was cold but it felt so good after. We headed back to the car and called it a day.
We had the best jam-packed day on Skye, but regrettably missed a few cool stops, including:
Dunvegan Castle
Neist Lighthoue (for sunset would have been cool)
Fairy Glen
Day 5 - Drive to Inverness
After a cozy breakfast at our B&B, we hit the road for Inverness! From Portree to the town of Inverness, it’s just under 3 hours drive time with a few points of interest for little breaks along the way.
Leaving Skye, you might want to check out Eilean Donan Castle, or take pictures from the Sligachan (bridge). We forged ahead as my number one goal on this drive was to find Highland Cows (Coos). We stopped by Redburn Cafe and found some!
Soon you will find yourself driving alongside THE Loch Ness. I recommend stopping for a visit at the Lochness Centre & Exhibition to read up on the lore around the famous monster. As a side note Justin and I had a quick break upstairs in the restaurant and had the best scone and cream I’ve ever had in my life. I still think about it.
Just a short drive later we were in Inverness, which was busy with runners taking part in the Inverness Marathon (the route includes a long run alongside the Loch and then through town - very scenic!) We meandered through the streets, along the river, cheered on runners, tried to check out Leakey’s bookshop (it was closed), and had some bangers and mash out on the patio, enjoying the milder fall temperatures while we could.
Unfortunately, it was at dinner that we realized that the B&B I booked that night was in fact booked for the following year on the same day (oops!! can't be perfect all the time). So off we went, away from the fully-booked town of Inverness to the cutest farmhouse near Tomatin. On the way, we made a quick stop at Clava Cairns, an ancient burial site. It was okay. Cool to see I suppose but not overly thrilling. Another huge draw to this area is the Culloden Battlefield (the site of a brutal - and final - battle of the Jacobite Rising in 1746), worth checking out if you're into that sort of thing. All's well that ends well, we ended up in the coziest little farmhouse that night for a good night's sleep.
Day 6 - Drive to St Andrews
After our unexpected night in Tomatin, we found ourselves closer to today’s destination, the home of golf… St Andrews (about 2.5 hours). We stopped on our way for breakfast and a stroll through the picturesque little town of Pitlochry.
We stayed at the Dunvegan in St Andrews, which was a great spot! (despite our room's funny layout with two single beds on either sides of the room facing one another) anyway, the location was excellent, right around the corner from Hole 18 of the Old Course where the British Open is played each July, it has a cozy bar in the downstairs, with just a few rooms up the stairs and it was perfect for walking around and exploring town. But first, we had an early afternoon tee time at Strathtyrum (executive course). It was so fun and such a cool experience playing here. After finishing up, we had a pint at the Jigger Inn then headed back to freshen up for an early evening stroll through town.
There are endless adorable shops, including a lot of bookstores! Spend the evening perusing the storefronts, and save some of the historical sights for tomorrow morning. For dinner, you must try Criterion Pub for a ‘Cri Pie’ (I suggest the Steak & Ale, though that was largely due to my pregnancy cravings for beef, I’m sure the other options are delicious too). Finish with a nightcap in one of the many traditional pubs on the way back.
Day 7 - Drive to Edinburgh
Before checking out, we woke up early enough to walk along the beach and through the town to get a coffee and see some of the ruins from the Castle and the Cathedral, right in town and overlooking the water. Load up on any final souvenirs for the golf-lovers in your life and hit the road for the final stop… Edinburgh! Just about 1.5 hours.
Edinburgh is a contender on the list of my favourite cities. It was hard not to fall in love with it right from day 1. It’s large but feels walkable, it’s charming and picturesque, it has so much history on every corner. Some people describe it as fairy-tale like, especially in comparison with its more contemporary and ‘grittier’ counterpart, Glasgow.
During our stay, we burned through our credit card points to stay at the W. We’re not the type to splurge on hotels often but it was such a treat to cap off the trip, especially after mostly staying in bed and breakfasts (which we loved, but nice to switch it up). Our room had a view of Arthur’s Seat and Salisbury Crags, which we ended up hiking, and overall it was just a very luxe experience. I would 10/10 recommend but there are loads of other great options, as long as you’re staying centrally you’ll be good.
Spend the first evening exploring around Old Town - do some pub hopping and grab dinner in Grassmarket area. There’s a great spot for a photo nearby with the castle in the background called ‘The Vennel Viewpoint’. If you have time and energy left, you can hike up Calton Hill for sunset. Grab snacks and a drink at M&S to take with you.
Day 8 - Edinburgh
Up and at em for a big walking day. Grab a coffee at Black Sheep (Scottish chain) or other cute independent shop and start your morning with a walk by and around the Scott Monument before heading up Cockburn Street (cool curvy street leading to the Royal Mile). Stroll down the Royal Mile toward Edinburgh Castle (make sure to pre-book tickets as this is a very popular attraction, and well worth it!) If you can, try to time your visit to see the One O’Clock Gun going off at, well, 1pm. It fires everyday except Sundays (and Christmas/Easter apparently). You’ll want to spend a few hours here as there is lots to see (both the outer grounds and inside the many buildings). Make sure you check out St Margaret’s Chapel, which is the oldest building in the entire city, built around 1130.
Just a short stroll out the Castle gates and down the Royal Mile is iconic Victoria Street where you’ll see a rainbow of colourful businesses and shopfronts. One of these is a multi-level Harry Potter store which is worth a quick peruse if you’re a fan (I’m anti JK Rowling but do nostalgically love HP - it’s said she first began writing the series in a cafe in Edinburgh, though I recall reading that a few cafes made this claim, so who knows what’s true).
Grab lunch at Bertie’s Fish & Chips. It may be full of tourists but honestly it was really good and I liked the decor and vibe. If you didn’t previously check out Grassmarket, now’s a good time to check it out.
Optional in this area: National Museum of Scotland (I drag Justin to a lot of museums but we mostly cruise through them at a good pace) and a whiskey at Sandy Bell’s (really nothing that special… but it also kind of felt special in an old school understated way). Any hole in the wall that serves whiskey or Guinness when you need it most is going to be your special spot too.
Next up, Dean’s Village. This spot is so picturesque (I need a thesaurus at this point, what isn’t picturesque in Scotland), and worth the walk. Another cute spot is Circus Lane, though it’s not exactly nearby.
At this point, we were done with walking and ready to have dinner at our hotel. We dragged ourselves across town, past many a busker and many a pub, for a nice rooftop sushi dinner (thanks to a $150 dining credit hehe) and called it a night.
Day 9 - Edinburgh
This morning we’re starting with a classic Edinburgh hike up Arthur's Seat. Having read One Day (and recently watched both the movie and TV series), in which this popular local hike is featured, I knew I wanted to do it while in town myself. It isn't too strenuous. Make your way to Holyrood Car Park and follow the path up. There is also the neighbouring Salisbury Crags that are cool too and even easier to hike/walk.
Afterward, meander your way toward town for a nice sit down coffee or tea. We found ourselves at the base of the Royal Mile and decided to do some people watching before shopping for our final souvenirs from the trip (Christmas ornament + fridge magnet a must!
If you haven't already perused the other streets of "New Town", do so this afternoon if you are in the mood to shop. This area, which includes George St, Prince St and Queen St, was designed in the mid 1700s as a grid-layout to provide more space from the overcrowded and decidedly not grid-like layout of Old Town.
For dinner, check out Edinburgh Street Food, a covered indoor food court offering tons of international options and comfort foods.
On this trip, we kept our sightseeing to a pretty tight perimetre of town, but a few other options to consider adding to your itinerary:
Leith and Waterfront (wander the harbour, browse shops, sip wine + enjoy some seafood)
Botanical Gardens
Cramond Island (if you're into WWII history especially)
Day 10 - Departure
Goodbye Scotland! If you have time in the morning, tick off any final to-do's.
Otherwise, head to the airport, located about 30 minutes from town. You can take a cab or there is an airport bus or tram that can get you there a bit cheaper.
I know we'll be back someday - Scotland is a wild and magical place that I can't wait to explore more of. Reach out to me if you have any questions about your own trip to The Land of the Lochs!
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